Electronic transmitter and receiver system for training of cats and other domestic animals and method of training domestic animals

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and transmitter allowing animal owners to locate their animals by a non-verbal audible output signal and a visual output signal. A method for training animals to elicit a desired behavior based upon stimuli emitted from an electronic device. The electronic device and method enable animal owners to quickly find their animals that might not otherwise respond to verbal commands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 11/938,244 filed Nov. 9, 2007 which is basedon U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/865,775 filed Nov.14, 2006 and a claim to priority based thereon is respectfully madeherein under 35 USC Section 119. The specification of those applicationsare incorporated herein by reference and claims to priority claimed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for locating an animal andmethodology for training an animal to elicit a reinforced behavior inresponse to a stimulus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Animal owners are often confronted with the difficulty of locating theiranimals. Historically, numerous methods have been used, includingbrightly illuminated collars, bells and even clothing.

Numerous technologies have been employed to aid owners locating theiranimals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,036,610, 5,815,077, 6,003,473, 6,329,918, and6,885,305 all disclose various means to solve this dilemma.

Fehr's U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,610 describes a central clearing housewherein the finder of a lost animal could call a phone number located ona collar or tag of an animal and obtain information based upon anadditional, unique number also located on the collar. Using the uniquenumber the finder of the animal could obtain the animal owners identityand contact information to secure the animal's safe return.

Christiansen's U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,077 describes an elaborateprogrammable hand held transmitter having a dual tone multiple frequencytouch pad that can be used for voice communication with the animal andan electronic assembly attached to a collar strap mounted on the animalto be controlled. The electronic assembly includes amicroprocessor/microcontroller which is used to supervise the functionsperformed by the collar assembly, having a radio signal receiver, amicroprocessor, a sounder, a sound sensor, a motion sensor and anelectroshock stimulator.

Printz's U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,473 describes a pet identification andretrieval device whereby finders of lost pets are able to listen to aprerecorded message concerning the pet's owners, as well as anyadditional information of relevance to the pet. This device furtherincludes the identification tags and a low battery indicator light.

Moyer's U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,918 describes an electronic identificationtag that allows pet owners to select, program and display informationabout the pet and its owner as a means for locating a lost pet.Additionally the tag emits audible signal reminding the pet's owner ofsuch important events as a grooming, a veterinarian appointment, afeeding, or daily animal attention. This patent further contemplates ameans for electronically summoning or paging an animal.

Davis' U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,305 describes a system for locating andsending messages to pets, wherein the messages are sent to pets using ahand-held remote transmitter and a receiver that is attached to the pet.The receiver has digitally recorded voice commands and one or morelights that can be turned on by pushing buttons on the transmitter.

There remains a need for a device that is simple to operate, yeteffectively locates an animal by an audible and visual output.Furthermore, there is a need for a simple training method incorporatinga device that elicits a response from an animal that might otherwise notrespond to verbal commands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for locating a mobile animalby a human seeking the animal.

In one embodiment the system comprises: an electronic device adapted tobe secured to the animal, the electronic device further comprising areceiver in communication with an emitter; a signal transmitter deviceadapted to be operated by the human to cause transmission of a signalfrom the signal transmitter to the receiver, with the receiver adaptedto receive the signal from the signal transmitter device andresponsively generate a non-verbal audible output signal such as awhistle or chime tone, and a visual output signal emanating from theemitter, the non-verbal audible output signal and the visual outputsignal being perceptible to the human, whereby the human is able tolocate the animal.

In another embodiment, the current invention relates to a method oftraining an animal to respond to a stimulus, the method comprising thefollowing steps:

-   -   securing an electronic device to the animal, the electronic        device comprising a receiver in responsive communication with an        emitter;    -   transmitting a signal from a transmitting device so that the        signal is received by the receiver to generate a stimulus        comprising an emitted non-verbal audible output and a visual        output from the electronic device that is perceptible to the        animal;    -   associating a reward for the animal with the emitted non-verbal        audible output and the visual output emitted from the electronic        device; and    -   repeating the transmitting step and associating step to elicit a        reinforced behavior from the animal in response to the repeated        emitted non-verbal audible output and the visual output.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the invention will be morefully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the presentinvention showing a pendant or medallion including a receiver andemitter assembly, adapted for attachment to a collar.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the face portion of the pendant ormedallion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the intermediate section of thependant or medallion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pendant or medallion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a signal transmitter deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention for use with apendant or medallion of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the pendant or medallion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a signal transmitter deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention for use with apendant or medallion of the type shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the signal transmitter device of FIG.7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION, AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS THEREOF

The present invention relates to a system for locating a mobile animalby a human seeking the animal.

The system in one embodiment comprises: an electronic device adapted tobe secured to the animal, the electronic device further comprising areceiver in communication with an emitter; a signal transmitter deviceadapted to be operated by the human to cause transmission of a signalfrom the signal transmitter to the receiver, with the receiver adaptedto receive the signal from the signal transmitter device andresponsively generate a non-verbal audible output signal and a visualoutput signal emanating from the emitter, the non-verbal audible outputsignal and the visual output signal being perceptible to the human,whereby the human is able to locate the animal.

In one aspect of the present invention, the non-verbal audible outputsignal comprises a beeping noise. In another aspect of the presentinvention the non-verbal audible output signal is a continuous tone.And, in yet another aspect of the present invention the non-verbalaudible output signal comprises an intermittent tone or whistle. In astill further variation, the transmitter and receiver components of thesystem can be formed wholly or partially of material having a readilyvisualizable character. For example, these components may include ahousing that is made of a fluorescent, phosphorescent, or otherluminophoric material, whereby the housing glows in the dark, has areflectance feature, or otherwise interacts with incident light orradiation to provide a distinctive visual signature.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the emitter furthergenerates a visual output signal that includes a color selected from thegroup consisting of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet,pink, fuchsia, puce, chartreuse, and amber. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the visual output signal comprises a flashinglight from one or more sources. In another preferred embodiment, thevisual output signal emanates from one or more light emitting diodes. Inyet another embodiment of the invention, the visual output signalcomprises an intermittent light. In still another embodiment of theinvention, the visual output signal comprises a continuous light.

In one aspect of the present invention, the electronic device comprisesa pendant or medallion having dimensions of 0.5 to 3.0 inches in length,0.5 to 3.0 inches in width, and 0.25 to 1.0 inches in depth. In apreferred embodiment of the current invention, the electronic devicecomprises a pendant having dimensions of 1.3 to 2.1 inches in length,1.0 to 1.7 inches in width, and 0.2 to 0.9 inches in depth.

In one preferred embodiment of the current invention, the electronicdevice further comprises a pet and owner identification tag.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the electronic devicecomprises a housing member having a shape of an animal face. The animalface can be of any suitable type, as for example the visage of a cat,dog, rodent, bird, Siamese cat, Persian cat, tabby cat, poodle,dachshund, terrier, spaniel, beagle, chihuahua, ferret, rat, parakeet,parrot, toucan. In various embodiments, the animal face furthercomprises eyes, ears, nose, whiskers, and a mouth.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the eyes isopen and the other eye is closed. In another preferred embodiment, theeye that is open emits the visual output signal when the signal isreceived by the electronic device from the signal transmitter.

In another aspect of the present invention, the whiskers are slits thatemit the non-verbal audible output signal. In another aspect of thepresent invention, the slits are covered with a water resistantmembrane.

In another embodiment of the present invention the device is comprisedof a front piece, a back piece and an intermediary piece sandwichedbetween the front and back piece. In yet another embodiment of thepresent invention the back piece has one or more eyelets for a petcollar to slide between, whereby the electronic device is adapted to besecured to the collar.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to a method oftraining an animal to respond to a stimulus, the method comprises thefollowing steps: securing an electronic device to the animal, theelectronic device comprising a receiver in responsive communication withan emitter; transmitting a signal from a transmitting device so that thesignal is received by the receiver to generate the stimulus thatcomprises an emitted non-verbal audible output and a visual output fromthe electronic device that is perceptible to the animal; and associatinga reward for the animal with the emitted non-verbal audible output andthe visual output emitted from the electronic device; and repeating thetransmitting step and associating step to elicit a reinforced behaviorfrom the animal in response to the repeated emitted non-verbal audibleoutput and the visual output.

In another embodiment of the present invention the reward for the animalcomprises food. In one embodiment of the present invention thereinforced behavior comprises the animal approaching the human. Inanother embodiment of the present invention the reinforced behaviorcomprises the animal moving to a predetermined location. In a preferredembodiment of the present invention the predetermined location is inclose proximity to a food source.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of the presentinvention showing the entire pendant 10 attachable to a collar. Thispendant 10 shows a feline face with outer ears 15, inner ears 20,whiskers 35, a nose 45, a mouth 40, one eye open 25 and one eye shut 30.In this embodiment the one open eye 25 comprises a light emitting diodeto facilitate the visual output signal. The whiskers 35 are slitsfacilitating the emission of non-verbal audible output from theelectronic device. In one embodiment the whiskers 35 have a waterresistant membrane to protect the interior from water damage likely tooccur if animals wear the electronic device outdoors.

In one embodiment the electronic device 10 and transmitter areconstructed of plastic or polymeric material, and particularly, anon-metallic, non-impregnated with carbon or other material, so as notinterfere with the receipt and transmission of an electronic signal. AnABS transparent plastic is one suitable material. The electroniccircuitry of the transmitter and the electronic device are technologiesthat are well-established and often used in the field of remoteactuation of mechanical devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,866,433, 4,868,915,4,897,644, and 3,891,980 are incorporated herein by reference asrepresentative but by no means all-inclusive of the various remoteactuated technologies that can be used to accomplish the signaltransmission and signal reception of the present invention. In oneembodiment the electronic device has a receiver frequency of between 400to 500 MHz, a working voltage of 2 to 4 Volts, a static state workingcurrent of 1 to 2 mA, and a dynamic working current of 40 to 70 mA.

FIG. 2 shows a front piece in one embodiment of the present invention.The front piece in this embodiment does not include ears but doesinclude an open light emitting diode eye 25, a closed eye 30, nose 45,mouth 40, and whiskers 35 adapted to emit non-verbal audible output.

FIG. 3 shows an intermediary piece 55 in one embodiment of the presentinvention. This intermediary piece has an outer ear 15 and inner earportions 20.

FIG. 4 shows a three piece embodiment of an electronic device 10 of thepresent invention. The top piece 50 has an animal face in one embodimentof the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention theface includes a flashing light for a visual output signal and slits fora non-verbal audible output signal. The intermediary piece 55 issandwiched between the top piece and the bottom piece 60. The bottompiece 60 includes eyelets 65 adaptable to secure the electronic device55 to a collar. This particular embodiment is not meant to limit thevarious means by which the electronic device may be secured to ananimal.

FIG. 5 is a front view drawing of a signal transmitter device 70according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodimentof a signal transmitter device buttons 75, 80, 85, and 90 may be pressedto cause transmission of various signals from the signal transmitter tothe receiver of an electronic device. In other embodiments of thepresent invention additional or fewer buttons may be located on thesignal transmitter device to send various signals to the electronicdevice. The various signals may correspond to various non-verbal audibleoutput signals, visual output signals only or, alternatively, one ormore non-verbal audible output signals only.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of a pendant or medallion of the typeshown in FIG. 1, showing the rear surface of such pendant or medallion,as engraved or otherwise printed with the name of a pet intended to wearthe pendant or medallion. Such rear surface also includes a telephonenumber of an owner of such pet, or number of other party to be notifiedin the event that the animal becomes lost, or is separated from itsowner.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of a signal transmitter deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. The eyes andmouth of the fanciful face on such signal transmitter device comprisemanually depressible buttons each of which can be selectively depressedto actuate a signal transmission to the receiver in the pendant ormedallion on a pet, of the type shown and described in FIGS. 1-4. The“eye buttons” may each be actuated for signaling a different receiverworn by an individual one of a pair of pets. The “mouth button” may bearranged to emit a signal to the receiver of a third pet, oralternatively, such button may be used to actuate the other two buttonssimultaneously.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the signal transmitter device of FIG.7, showing the details of the casing, as secured with mechanicalfastener elements, whereby the respective parts of the housing,comprising front and back sections, may be separated from one anotherfor battery replacement, servicing, etc.

While the invention has been described herein in reference to specificaspects, features and illustrative embodiments of the invention, it willbe appreciated that the utility of the invention is not thus limited,but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations,modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves tothose of ordinary skill in the field of the present invention, based onthe disclosure herein. Correspondingly, the invention as hereinafterclaimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, asincluding all such variations, modifications and alternativeembodiments, within its spirit and scope.

1. A method of training a mobile domestic animal by a human, the methodcomprising the following steps: securing an electronic receiver deviceto said domestic animal, said electronic receiver device comprising anelectronic signal receiver, a non-verbal audible output signal generatorand a visual output signal generator, both said non-verbal audibleoutput signal generator and said visual output signal generator being inelectronic communication with said electronic signal receiver;activating by a human the transmission of a wireless signal from ahand-held signal transmitter device and thus generating an electronicsignal for detection and receipt by said receiver device; said receiverdevice generating, upon receipt of said electronic signal, both anon-verbal audible output signal and a visual output signal, thenon-verbal audible output signal and the visual output signal both beingperceptible to the animal; and providing and associating a positive ornegative reward to the animal to be trained in response to thenon-verbal audible output signal and the visual output signal; andrepeating the activating, generating and providing steps to elicit areinforced trained behavior from the animal in response to thenon-verbal audible output and the visual output, all in response to thetransmitted wireless signal.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid positive or negative reward is food.
 3. A method as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said reinforced behavior is the action of the animalmoving from one location to a second location.
 4. A method as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said reinforced behavior is the action of the animalmoving towards the human.
 5. A system for the training of a mobiledomestic animal by a human comprising: an electronic receiver deviceadapted to be secured to the domestic animal, the receiver devicecomprising an electronic signal receiver, and a non-verbal audiblesignal and visual output signal emitter in electronic communication withsaid signal receiver which provides both a nonverbal audible outputsignal and a visual output signal in response to an electronic signalreceived by said signal receiver, both of said non-verbal audible outputsignal and said visual output signal being perceptible by said domesticanimal; a hand-held wireless signal transmitter device adapted to beselectively activated by the human and capable of transmitting awireless signal for detection by said receiver device, such that theanimal can be trained to perform a particular step or steps based on thedomestic animal's perception of said non-verbal audible output signaland said visual output signal in response to activation of saidhand-held wireless signal transmitter.
 6. A system as claimed in claim 5wherein said hand-held wireless signal transmitter is provided with twoor more unique wireless signals and two or more animals sought to betrained are each provided with a unique electronic receiver device.